Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will recommend to the Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases a new set of relaxed protocols whether or not the country is downgraded to Alert Level 1 on March 1.
Lopez told a radio interview on Tuesday night the DTI will push for the removal of acrylic barriers in enclosed establishments especially as the virus, particularly the Omicron, was proven to be airborne.
He said the DTI will ask establishments to further improve their ventilation by adding purifiers, opening doors and windows and using hepa filters in air conditioning.
Lopez said it may also be time to shorten physical distance.
Masks should still be worn at all times,Lopez said.
“We plan to issue a new circular that is easy to follow by enterprises,” he added.
Calling the downgrade to Alert Level 1 as ceremonial, Lopez said the economy has long been open after several changes in quarantines, protocols and alert levels.
Some establishments operate at practically 100 percent especially in areas with high vaccination rate and where establishments have the Safety Seal. – Irma Isip
